THE PRESIDENT: In recent weeks, many have expressed concern about the
significant increase in global food prices. And I share this concern. In
some of the world's poorest nations, rising prices can mean the difference
between getting a daily meal and going without food.

To address this problem, two weeks ago my administration announced that
about $200 million in emergency food aid would be made available through a
program at the Agriculture Department called the Emerson Trust. But that's
just the beginning of our efforts. I think more needs to be done, and so
today I am calling on Congress to provide an additional $770 million to
support food aid and development programs. Together, this amounts to
nearly $1 billion in new funds to bolster global food security. And with
other food security assistance programs already in place, we're now
projecting to spend nearly -- that we will spend nearly $5 billion in 2008
and 2009 to fight global hunger.

This funding will keep our existing emergency food aid programs robust. We
have been the leader for providing food to those who are going without in
the past, and we will continue to be the leader around the world. It will
also allow us to fund agricultural development programs that help farmers
in developing countries increase their productivity. And of course this
will help reduce the number of people who need emergency food aid in the
first place.

As America increases its food assistance, it's really important that we
transform the way that food aid is delivered. In my State of the Union
address this year, I called on Congress to support a proposal to purchase
up to nearly 25 percent of food assistance directly from farmers in the
developing world. And the reason you do that is, in order to break the
cycle of famine that we're having to deal with too often in a modern era,
it's important to help build up local agriculture. I ask Congress to
approve this measure as soon as possible. It's a common sense way to help
deal with food emergencies around the world.

Other countries have a role to play as well. America is in the lead, we'll
stay in the lead, and we expect others to participate along with us. We're
working with our G8 partners and other developed nations to secure
commitments from their governments for additional food aid.

We're also working toward the conclusion of a successful Doha agreement
that will reduce and eliminates tariffs and other barriers, as well as
market-distorting subsidies for agricultural goods. And the reason why
getting a Doha Round done is important is it'll end up reducing the cost of
food, importing food; it will make it cheaper for consumers all around the
world. In other words, we want to change the system to make it easier for
people to get less expensive food.

We're also urging countries that have instituted restrictions on
agricultural exports to lift those restrictions. Some countries are
preventing needed food from getting to market in the first place, and we
call upon them to end those restrictions to help ease suffering for those
who aren't getting food.

We're also urging countries to remove barriers to advanced crops developed
through biotechnology. These crops are safe, they're resistant to drought
and disease, and they hold the promise of producing more food for more
people.

Here at home, we're working to ensure that our poorest citizens get the
food they need. Since 2001, the administration in working with Congress
has increased funding for nutrition assistance programs by 76 percent.
We've adjusted food stamp benefits annually to cover price increases at the
checkout counter. And last month the Agriculture Department made available
an additional $150 million to respond to the food needs of those who depend
on WIC -- the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children. With this new funding, we will have increased our support for
WIC by 18.6 percent this year.

The American people are generous people and they're compassionate people.
We believe in a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is expected.
And so therefore at home we are working to ensure that the neediest among
us can cope with the rising food prices. And with the new international
funding I'm announcing today, we're sending a clear message to the world:
that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come.